Original Article

Influence of practice on visual reaction time

Tejas P. Ghuntla, Hemant B. Mehta, Pradnya A. Gokhale, Chinmay J. Shah

Abstract
Background: The present study was aimed to see the effect of practice on visual information processing
speed. Reaction time is one of the important physiological parameters, which gives information how fast and
quickly person responses. Reaction is purposeful voluntary response to different stimuli as visual stimuli.
Visual reaction time (VRT) is the time required to response to visual stimuli. Materials and Methods:
The VRT was measured by the multiple choice apparatus in subjects. Simple reaction time and choice
reaction time measured. Reaction time was measured in two sessions. In the first session, VRT was measured
without practice of task and in the second session VRT was measured after practice of task. The results were
statistically analyzed and were recorded as mean ± standard deviation and Student’s paired t-test was applied
to check the level of significance. Result and Conclusion: In the present study, we found that VRT was
less after practice for both simple and choice VRT tasks. Reaction time decreases by practice. Skills can be
improved by practice. In daily life majority of work is done by the use of visual information. By the practice
of an important task time required for stimulus identification and response can be decreased. Practice is
useful for driving vehicles. It is helpful to students, as they have identification of bones, instruments, graphs
and viva questions in examination of various medical subjects. Hence by practice students can identify,
understand and answer quickly.

Keywords: Choice, practice, reaction time, simple, visual

Introduction Reaction time is defined as interval of time between

presentation of stimulus and appearance of appropriate
Human body responses to the number of external voluntary response in a subject.[1] Visual reaction time
environmental stimuli of different modalities. Human (VRT) is a time required to respond to visual stimuli.
body gives a desired and purposeful voluntary Reaction time becomes an important component of
response to stimulus. There is a certain time period information processing as it indexes speed of stimulus
between application of stimulus and appropriate processing and response programming.[2] Reaction
motor response. There are various sensory modalities time is one of the important physiological parameter
and human body responses to various stimuli with which gives information how fast and quickly person
different speed. This plays an important role in
responses.
everyday life.
Reaction time is having mainly two components.[3]
Access this article online
Quick Response Code: 1. Mental processing time: Which is the time required
Website: for responder to perceive stimulus, identifying and
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analyzing of stimulus and decide the proper motor
response.
DOI:
***** 2. Movement time: It is the time required to perform
the movement after selection of response.

Department of Physiology, Government Medical College, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India

Address for correspondence:

Dr. Tejas P. Ghuntla, “Maa Sharda”, Plot No. 13, Sumeru Bunglows, Opp. Top-3 Cinema, Talaja Road, Bhavnagar - 364 002,
Gujarat, India. E-mail: [email protected]

September 2014 | Vol 19 | Issue 2 Journal of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences
120 Tejas, et al.: Influence of practice on VRT

Luce[4] and Welford[5] described three types of reaction Data was collected and was statistically analyzed. Reaction
time.[6] time was taken as mean ± standard deviation. The level
1. Simple reaction time: Here there is one stimulus and of significance between before practice VRT and after
one response. practice VRT was tested by Students t-test (Paired). The
2. Recognition reaction time: Here there are some observation was taken as a significant of P < 0.05.
stimulus that should be responded to and other that
should not get a response. Result
3. Choice reaction time: Here, there are multiple
stimulus and multiple responses. VRT was measured in seconds for both simple and
choice VRT task.
By the practice of motor movements, muscular
coordination and speed of movement can be improved VRT found to be significantly (P < 0.05) less in after the
which would improve movement time. Long lasting practice session when compared with before practice
improvement in performing skilled motor movements session for simple reaction time task [Table 1].
can be achieved by training and retraining and repeated
practicing.[7-9] The present study is carried out to see VRT found to be significantly (P < 0.05 ) less in
the effect of practice on visual information processing after the practice session when compared with before
speed which is analyzed by measuring VRT. We practice session for choice reaction time task [Table 2].
compare VRT before practice and after practice for
simple and choice reaction time task. Discussion
In the present study, we found that VRT was less after
Materials and Methods
practice for both simple and choice VRT tasks which
The study was conducted among 50 male healthy means that reaction time decreases after practice. This
subjects of Bhavnagar region. Subjects of 17-20 years is in parallel with previous studies concluding that a
included in the study. Personal history and medical practice decreases reaction time.[10,11]
history of all subjects was collected in pre-designed
Several possible mechanisms have been described
performa. Medical history was taken to rule out
for this. People can acquire new motor skills and
any medical or surgical disease which would affect
improve them with practice.[12] Learning of motor
reaction time of individual. After taking consent,
skill practice influenced on information processing.[10]
reaction time was measured with multiple choice
With repetition of motion, person’s conscious effort
apparatus 653MP (reaction time apparatus), an Inco
is decreased and the motion becomes more and more
Company Product (Ambala), with accuracy of ±
automatic.[13] Motor circuits of basal ganglia play a key
0.001 s. VRT was measured under two categories:
role in the automatic execution of motor tasks.[14]
1. Simple reaction time, where subject has to respond
to visual stimuli by pressing key and It was concluded in other study that mental practice
2. Choice reaction time, the subject had to respond influences the learning of cognitive activities.[15] Hence
to different coloured visual stimulus by pressing
respective key. Table 1: Difference in simple visual reaction time
in before the practice session and after the practice
Study was conducted in two sessions. In the first session, session
visual stimuli were given for 3 times and minimum Simple VRT (before Simple VRT (after practice) P value
practice)
reaction time was taken as a final reaction time for that 0.16190±0.02624 0.14190±0.02624 <0.0001
sensory modality of that subject. In the second session, VRT = Visual reaction time
subjects were given practice session in which the subject
responded to visual stimuli until near about constant Table 2: Difference in choice visual reaction time
values of reaction time come and then visual stimuli in before the practice session and after the practice
session
were given for 3 times and minimum reaction time was
Choice VRT (before Choice VRT (after practice) P value
taken as a final reaction time for that sensory modality practice)
of that subject. In both sessions, simple reaction time 0.30368±0.07461 0.26958±0.06699 0.0003
and choice reaction time was measured. VRT = Visual reaction time

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Tejas, et al.: Influence of practice on VRT 121

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